Heat Island Reduction: Sustainable Site Credit for LEED Existing building (O+M)

LEED EBOM (Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance) certification focuses on improving the sustainability performance of existing buildings. One of the credit requirements for LEED EBOM certification is Heat Island Reduction, which aims to minimize the negative impact of heat islands on the environment and human health. This article will discuss how to comply with this credit and achieve one point toward LEED EBOM certification.

The intent of this credit is to reduce the effects of heat islands on microclimates, human health, and wildlife habitats. Heat islands are areas where the temperature is significantly higher than the surrounding areas due to the built environment, such as the presence of dark-colored surfaces, buildings, and lack of vegetation. Heat islands can lead to increased energy consumption, air pollution, and heat-related illnesses. To achieve this credit, building owners and operators must have strategies in place to minimize the project’s overall contribution to heat island effects. The project must meet the following criterion:

Alternatively, an SRI (Solar Reflectance Index) and SR (Solar Reflectance) weighted average approach may be used to calculate compliance. The building owner and operator can use any combination of the following strategies to meet the criterion:

Required Documentation:

• Nonroof and/or roof area calculations
• Site plan highlighting non-roof elements and measurements, hardscape area, and area of each non-roof measure
• Document or narrative describing the maintenance program for cleaning high-reflectance surfaces and/or vegetated roofs as applicable